Evergreen roping machine



July 25, 1961 u. H. HUGHES EVERGREEN ROPING MACHINE Original Filed July27, 1959 zvtli Pi INVENTOR.

UNABELLE H. HUGHES ATTORNEYS 2,993,332 EVERGREEN ROPING MACHINE UnabelleH. Hughes, 444 Marion St., Pontiac, Mich. Driginal application July 27,1959, Ser. No. 829,893. Divided and this application Apr. 11, 1960, Ser.No.

'7Claims. (Cl.573)

This invention relates to evergreen roping machines and refers moreparticularly to machines for continuously producing evergreen ropingcomposed of a flexible linear member having evergreen boughs boundthereto by a wire or like element.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No.829,893, filed July 27, 1959.

One object of the invention is to provide an evergreen roping machinehaving means for securely binding the evergreen boughs to a flexiblelinear member in a continuous manner as the flexible linear member ismoved along a predetermined path.

Another object of the invention is to provide an evergreen ropingmachine having means for supporting the evergreen boughs during theperiod of time they are being tied to the flexible linear member,thereby providing greater stability and assuring a tighter, more firmlywrapped length of roping.

A further object of the invention is to provide an evergreen ropingmachine having means for advancing a flexible linear member through anelongated guide, and means for winding a flexible linear element aroundthe guide to bind together the portions of the evergreen boughs placedagainst the outer side of the guide, the

tes atent O guide extending axially beyond the winding means and 1serving as an inner support for the boughs during binding, and as asupport for the flexible linear member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an evergreenroping machine as described in the preceding paragraph in which theportion of the guide against which the boughs are placed for wrapping isof reduced cross section, and in which the boughs are bound withsuflicient tension that they will be held together and be bound to theflexible linear member when it passes beyond the exit end of the guideand yet in which the boughs are not bound so tightly that they will notmove along the guide and beyond the exit end thereof.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic side elevational view of an evergreenroping machine, according to my invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the machine shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the machine.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the evergreen ropingmachine there illustrated includes a supporting frame .10 having mountedthereon an upright spindle 11 rotatably supporting a spool of twine 1 2.The twine 12 is the flexible linear member to which the evergreen boughs13 are secured in the manufacture of the roping. An elongated tubularguide 14 is supported on the frame and disposed so that it extends foreand aft of the machine. The twine 12 is drawn from the spool through thetubular guide 14 by anadvancing and winding drum 15. Between the spooland the guide 14,- the twine extends over a pulley 16 mounted on abracket 17 carried by the machine frame. ports a counter 18 which isoperated by the shaft of pulley 16 to record the length of twine passingover the pulley, thereby providing a measure of the amount of Thebracket 17 also suproping produced. The twine may be wrapped severaltimes around the pulley to provide enough friction between the twine andthe pulley to prevent slipping, and

the resistance to operation of the counter results in a resistance toturning of the pulley 16. Accordingly the length of twine between pulley16 and the drum 15 is held under tension, which is desirable infacilitating the tying of evergreen boughs thereto.

The elongated tubular guide 14 comprises a tube 20 of relatively largediameter extending fore and aft of the machine, the rear end of which ismounted on the frame 10. The guide 14 also includes an exit end portion21 of reduced cross section. The exit end portion 21 is in the form of aunit composed of a tube 22, a flat plate 23 and a rod-like tube 24. Thetube 22 is sleeved over and secured on the forward end of tube 20, andthe flat plate 23 is formed with an elongated slot 25 which extends overand is secured to the end of tube 22 so that portions of the plate areon diametrically opposite sides of the tube. The plate 23 has a bore 26aligned with the tubes 21) and 22 but of much smaller diameter than theinside of tube 20. The rod 24 is secured to the plate 23 and has aninternal diameter approximating that of the bore 26.

The rod is lined up with the bore 26 to receive the twine or flexiblelinear member as it passes therethrough. The internal diameter of therod 24 and the bore 26 is only slightly greater than the diameter of thetwine so that the twine is closely confined but its longitudinalmovement is not in any way obstructed. The outside diameter of rod 24 issmall relative to tube 20 and only slightly larger than the insidediameter thereof, for a purpose to be explained below. The exit orforward end portion of the rod 24 is tapered substantially to a point asshown at 27.

The twine 12 is advanced through the tubular guide 14 by the advancingand winding drum 15. This drum is rotated by a motor 28, the outputshaft of which has a pulley 29 which drives a larger pulley 30 by a belt31. The pulley 30 is secured to a shaft 31 which also carries a pulley32 fixed thereon and driving a pulley 33 secured to shaft 34 by belt 35.The shaft 34 has a 3-step pulley 35 secured thereto driving the 3-steppulley 36 by a belt 37. The pulley 37 operates a speed reducer 38 todrive the sprocket 39 at a low speed. Sprocket 39 is connected tosprocket 40 by a chain 42, and sprocket 40 is connected to shaft 43which rotates freely in bearings 44 on the frame. The winding andadvancing drum 15 is keyed to shaft 43. The flexible linear member ortwine 12 is secured to the drum by any suitable means so that rotationof the drum by the motor 28 and intermediate transmission mechanismadvances the roping and simultaneously wraps it on the drum. Theevergreen boughs are tied to each other and to twine 12 by structureincluding a winding head assembly 45. The winding head assembly 45comprises a rotatable wheel 46 mounted on the tubular guide 14 for freerotation. The axis of rotation of the wheel 46 coincides with the axisof the tubular guide. The wheel 46 has a grooved periphery for receivingthe belt 47 which also extends over a pulley 48. Pulley 43 is keyed to ashaft 49 mounted on the frame of the machine, and a second pulley 50 isalso keyed to shaft 49. A belt 51 extends over pulley 50 and over apulley 52 secured on shaft 31 Hence the motor 28 not only drives thedrum 15 but rotates the winding head assembly 45 as well.

The wheel 46 has a forwardly projecting needle or arm 54. A spool 53 ofwire 55 or like flexible linear'element is journaled on a bracket 56carried by the wheel and the wire extends through a slot 57 in the wheeland through an eye 58 in the needle. The Wire from the eye of the needlewraps the evergreen boughs to the flexible linear member or twine 12during advance of the latter. There is sufficient resistance to rotationof the spool 53 to place the wire under tension and therefore provide astrong tightly wrapped length of roping.

In operation, the end of the twine 12 is drawn through the tubular guideand attached in any suitable manner to the winding drum 15 so that asthe drum is rotated the twine is advanced continuously and wrapped onthe drum. When the motor is started the drum begins to rotate and toadvance the linear member. The evergreen boughs are placed against theexit end portion 21 of the tubular guide with their stems 60 to the rearand the wire from the winding head wraps about the bough stems in thearea of the tube or rod 24 to bind them firmly together. The windinghead assembly 45 is driven con tinuously by the motor 28 at a rate ofspeed related to the rotation of the drum such that sufiicient wire isapplied to the boughs to hold them together. The wire may be startedinitially by hand after which no attention need be given. As succeedingboughs are placed in position for binding, the leafy portions thereofoverlie the wire binding the preceding boughs to the twine 12,concealing the wire and providing an attractive length of evergreenroping. When the drum is loaded with roping, the roping may be removed.This may be accomplished by removing an end flange of the drum, forexample, so that the roping may be removed from the drum in an endwisedirection.

The forward end 27 of the tubular guide extends ax ially beyond the eyeof the needle which is accordingly disposed to one side of the exit endportion of the guide. Hence the twine within the portion of the boughsbeing wrapped is separated from the boughs by the guide. However, thetwine wraps the boughs together with sufficient tension that they willbe held together and be bound to the twine when the roping passes beyondthe exit end 27 of the guide. The boughs are not bound to the exit endof the guide so tightly that they will not move along the guide andbeyond the exit end. The boughs being tied are carried along in aforward direction by contact with those boughs beyond the tubular guidealready bound. The reason for the extended guide in the :area of bindingis to provide a rigid support for the boughs at this point in theoperation. The twine has been found to be somewhat unstable duringbinding despite the tension thereon, unless supported in the mannershown. Thus the exit end portion of the guide closely supports the twineand provides a rigid support for the boughs which could not otherwise beobtained. The tube 24 is of minimum outside diameter to reduce the areaof contact with the boughs so that whatever drag effect the tube 24 hason the forward advance of the roping is negligible. The tube 2.4 istapered at its exit end for this purpose also. The sides of the plate 23at diametrically opposite sides of the guide provide anti-rotatingmembers 649 engageable with the ends of the boughs during binding toprevent them from rotating.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An evergreen roping machine comprising a tubular guide having anelongated rigid exit end portion of reduced outside diameter, means foradvancing a flexible linear member axially through said guide and beyondthe exit end portion thereof, and means for winding a flexible linearelement around said exit end portion of said guide to bind together theportions of evergreen boughs placed against the outer side of said exitend portion of said guide with sufficient tension that the boughs willbe firmly bound together and to said linear member when advanced beyondthe exit end portion of said guide, said winding nieansincluding arotatable member mounted for rotation on said guide about the axis ofthe latter, a needle mounted on said rotatable member carryingsaid'linear element and spacedlaterally of said exit 77 I end portionof'said guide, said exit end portion of said guide terminating beyond'said needle and'serving as an inner support for said boughs during,binding, and antirotate members rigid with and projecting laterallyoutwardly from diametrically opposite sides of said guide adajcent' theexit end portion thereof for engaging and preventing rotation of theboughs during binding.

2. An evergreen roping'macbine comprising an elongated tubular guidehaving an elongated tube of relatively large inside diameter, and havingat its exit end a second elongated tube of relatively small insidediameter aligned and rigid with one another, means for advancing aflexible linear member of a diameter only slightly less than the insidediameter of said second tube axially through the tubes of said guide andbeyond the exit end of said second tube, and means for winding aflexible linear element around said second tube to bind together theportions of evergreen boughs placed against the outer side of saidsecond tube with suflicient tension that the boughs will be firmly boundtogether and to said lineat member when advanced beyond the exit end ofsaid second tube, said winding means including a rotatable membermounted for rotation on said guide about the axis of the latter, aneedle mounted on said rotatable member carrying said linear element andspaced laterally of said second tube, said second tube terminatingaxial- 1y beyond said needle and serving as an inner support for saidboughs during binding, and anti-rotate members rigid with and projectinglaterally outwardly from diametrically opposite sides of said guideadjacent said second tube for engaging and preventing rotation of theboughs during binding.

3. An evergreen roping machine comprising an elongated tubular guidehaving an elongated tube of relatively large inside diameter and havingat its exit end a second elongated tube of relatively small insidediameter, said tubes being aligned with one another, said guide alsohaving a plate rigidly interconnecting said tubes which is slotted toreceive the first mentioned tube and formed with a passage aligned withsaid tubes, means for advancing a flexible linear member of a diameteronly slightly less than the insidediameter of said second tube axiallythrough said tubes and through the passage in said plate and beyond theexit end of said second tube, means for winding a flexible linearelement around said second tube to bind together the portions ofevergreen boughs placed against the outer side of said second tube withsufficient tension that the boughs will be firmly bound together and tosaid linear member when advanced beyond the exit end of said secondtube, said winding means including a rotatable member mounted forrotation on said guide about the axis thereof, a needle mounted on saidrotatable member carrying said linear element and spaced laterally ofsaid second tube, said second tube terminating axially beyond saidneedle and serving as an inner support for said boughs during binding aswell as a support for the linear member, said plate having portionsprojecting'laterally outwardly with respect to said tubes fromdiametrically opposite sides thereofto provide anti-rotate members forengaging and preventing rotation of the boughs duringbinding, theoutside diameter length of the linear member, comprisingan elongatedtube, an elongated supporting member extendingbeyond said tube incontinuation thereof, means for advancing the flexible linear memberaxially through said tube and along said supporting member, and meansfor winding a flexible linear element around said supporting member tobind together the portions of evergreen boughs placed againstsaidsupporting member with sufficient tension that the boughs will be firmlyboundtogetherjand to said linear member when advanced beyond saidsupporting member, said supporting member extending axially beyond saidwinding means and serving as an inner support for said boughs duringbinding.

5. A machine for binding to a flexible linear member a plurality ofevergreen boughs distributed along the length of the linear member,comprising an elongated tube, an elongated supporting member extendingbeyond said tube in general alignment therewith, means for advancing theflexible linear member axially through said tube and along saidsupporting member, and means for winding a flexible linear elementaround said supporting member to bind together the portions of evergreenboughs placed against said supporting member with sufiicient tensionthat the boughs will be firmly bound together and to said linear memberwhen advanced beyond said supporting member, said winding meansincluding a rotatable member mounted for rotation about the axis of saidtube, and a needle on said rotatable member carrying said linear elementand spaced laterally outwardly from said supporting member, saidsupporting member extending axially beyond said needle and serving as aninner support for said boughs during binding.

6. A machine for binding to a flexible linear member a plurality ofevergreen boughs distributed along the length of the linear member,comprising a tube, an elongated rod-like supporting member extendingbeyond said tube and generally coaxial therewith, means for advancingthe flexible linear member axially through said tube and along saidsupporting member, and means for winding a flexible linear elementaround said supporting member to bind together the portions of evergreenboughs placed against said supporting member with sufiicient tensionthat the boughs will be firmly bound together and to said linear memberwhen advanced beyond said supporting member, said winding meansincluding a rotatable member mounted for rotation on said tube about theaxis of the latter, and a needle mounted on said rotatable membercarrying said linear element and spaced laterally outwardly from saidsupporting member, said supporting member terminating axially beyondsaid needle and serving as an inner support for said boughs duringbinding.

7. The machine defined in claim 6 wherein said rod-like supportingmember tapers toward its end remote from said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,494,667 Moore Ian. 17, 1950 2,653,439 Angiolino et al. Sept. 29, 1953FOREIGN PATENTS 573,050 Canada Mar 31, 1959

